He began to chirp, with bird-like trills of melody.
Raphael hesitated; his moral fibre had been weakened. It is impossible to touch print and not be defiled.
Suddenly Sampson ceased to whistle, and smote his head with his chubby fist.
'Ass that I am!' he exclaimed.
'What new reason have you discovered to think so?' said Raphael.
'Why, we dare not create boys. We shall be found out; boys must be circumcised, and some of the periphrastically styled "Initiators into the Abrahamic Covenant" may spot us. It was a girl that Mrs. Joseph Samuels was guilty of.'
He amended the sex.
Raphael laughed heartily.
'Put it by—there's another day yet—we shall see.'
'Very well,' said Sampson resignedly. 'Perhaps by to-morrow we shall be in luck, and able to sing "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." By the way, did you see the letter complaining of our using that quotation on the ground it was from the New Testament?'